9 Small Bedroom Office Combo Ideas That Are Actually Productive

Working from home but don’t have the space in your apartment for a separate home office? 

Here are 9 small bedroom/office combo ideas to help you achieve work-life balance without unnecessarily sacrificing your professional and personal spaces. 

1. Get organized

Organization is key when you’re working from home; you don’t want your work clutter bleeding into the messes created by your day-to-day life, or vice versa. 

Here are three must-haves:

Desk organizer

If you have a desk, you need a desk organizer. Every person and occupation will have different needs to meet in this department, but the Marbrasse Desk Organizer does an excellent job of being all things to all workers.

Filing cabinet

WFH employees with physical documents to keep track of will love the DEVAISE 2 Drawer Mobile File Cabinet. 

Although it doesn’t have much filing space, it makes up for it with a pleasing aesthetic and everyday utility that you’ll appreciate in the evenings when your office becomes your bedroom again.

Hangable hamper

Working from your bedroom means you might have to convert your laundry chair back into an office chair. 

Use an over-the-door hamper like the KEEPJOY Hanging Laundry Hamper Bag to reduce laundry clutter in your workspace.

2. Aim for lofty heights

A loft bed allows you to build a dedicated office area in your small bedroom without sacrificing floor space. The ikalido Metal Loft Bed is a fabulous and budget-friendly choice.

3. Trade in your nightstand

The DEVAISE 3-Drawer Wood File Cabinet is larger than your current nightstand, but its built-in filing cabinet and bookshelves allow it to do triple duty.

4. Divvy up space with rugs

Area rugs are a fantastic way to divide open-plan living spaces into discrete sections. 

The same concepts apply when splitting up the sleeping and working areas in your bedroom.

Here are a few combos I really love:

Modern and sleek

If you’re looking for something that will blend in with your surroundings while still being stylish, I can’t over-recommend the Classie Solid Shag Rug and Remona Modern Abstract Area Rug, both from nuLOOM. 

With a pile height approaching 1 inch, the Classie is a comforting choice for your bedroom, while the no-nonsense Remona won’t get caught in the wheels of your rolling chair.

Jute textures

Newbie interior designers often overlook different textures’ impact on a living space. 

NuLOOM’s Wavy Chevron Jute Area Rug and Hailey Hand Woven Jute Area Rug bring lots of personality to whatever room you put them in, but their low profiles and earth tones won’t draw the eye away from their surroundings.

Color-matched set

Sometimes, matching two area rugs is as simple as choosing pieces within the same color family. 

If pink’s your vibe, I recommend pairing the Unique Loom Davos Shag in dusty rose with the Leipzig Collection Area Rug in salmon.

Southwest chic

I love the subtle, southwestern flair of the nuLOOM Vanita Transitional Southwestern Fringe Area Rug. 

Layer the NativeSkins Medium Faux Cowhide Rug over a jute area rug, and you’ve got a great pairing with true personality.

Geometric patterns

The Textured Circles Geometric Area Rug and Mayan Sunset Geometric Area Rug from Mohawk Home go so well together that I’m dying to find a place for them in my own home. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the AD Set of 6 Coasters with Holder, which almost perfectly matches the Textured Circles rug.

Bohemian love

If you want to bring some boho vibes into your space, check out the BNM Viking Modern Geometric Trellis Area Rug and Unique Loom Sialk Hill Collection Traditional Area Rug. 

Power clashing

Love bright colors and eye-catching patterns? If so, the nuLOOM Abbey Carnival Handmade Shag Area Rug and SAFAVIEH Classic Vintage Collection CLV301A may be perfect for you!

Animal prints

Animal prints always stay in style. The nuLOOM Brooks Leopard Print Area Rug and SAFAVIEH Soho Collection SOH789A are understated enough to meld with most design aesthetics while making a bold declaration.

Total Opposites

Sometimes, two rugs can go together simply because they don’t go together at all! 

Pair the Unique Loom Colorful & Vibrant Abstract Area Rug with the nuLOOM Thomas Paul Serpent Area Rug, and you’ll see what I mean.

5. Minimize distractions

Working from home introduces a boatload of new distractions to your office environment — postal deliveries, neighborhood kids and dogs, construction, etc. 

Make your small bedroom office combo a little more peaceful by adding one or more of these solutions to the mix:

Sound-proofing panels

If your WFH setup requires regular Zoom meetings, these guohongus 50 Pack Acoustic Foam Panels are a must-buy. They’ll keep annoying interruptions from derailing both your work calls and your midday naps.

Noise-canceling earplugs

These Loop Quiet Ear Plugs have gone viral; now’s the perfect time to get a pair for yourself. 

You’ll still be able to hear in case of emergencies, but you won’t be totally distracted by that conversation your roommates are having right outside your door.

Pomodoro timer

The Pomodoro technique provides an excellent way to avoid distractions via planned breaks. Grab a mooas Cube Timer to try it for yourself.

Sound machine

If you need some noise playing in the background to work, but worry about the distractions caused by YouTube or Netflix, consider getting a White Noise Machine to fill the room with a drone that won’t grab your attention.

Wall clock

I’m so used to checking my phone for the time that sometimes I forget there’s a clock right on my computer screen. 

If your cell phone is the No. 1 cause of your productivity problems, get yourself a wall clock — like this HZDHCLH Wall Clock — so you can hide that notification machine for the length of your shift.

6. Don’t work in bed

We’ve all heard this advice before. Working in bed — or eating, watching TV, etc. — is terrible for your sleep hygiene. 

However, you don’t have to get a desk to circumvent this problem. 

Getting a comfy chair and lap desk — I love the HollyHOME Modern Large Cotton Fabric Lazy Chair and LapGear Designer Lap Desk — can help you create a nice working space that will let you continue to associate your bed with sleep.

7. Work out while you work from home

If you’re working a desk job from your small bedroom, I can’t recommend this Under Desk Treadmill enough. 

Not only will it help you get some much-needed exercise, but it also allows you to burn off the restless energy caused by being cooped up in your room all day.

8. Build your own coffee station

Speaking of being cooped up, having to leave your bedroom for coffee and bathroom breaks can help to break up the monotony of spending most of your time staring at the same four walls. 

If trips to the kitchen cause enough distractions to outweigh this boon, however, you might consider making coffee in your room instead.

Here’s how to build your own coffee station in the corner of your tiny bedroom:

Coffee maker

The vibrant colors and slim profile of this Holstein Housewares 5-Cup Compact Coffee Maker make it the perfect choice for WFH employees who don’t have room for a full-size machine.

Coffee mat

Coffee mats are great for catching those inevitable spills. This New Mungo Coffee Bar Mat brings personality to your in-room coffee bar without feeling out of place.

Mug warmer

If you’re anything like me, you reheat the same cup of coffee repeatedly throughout the day. 

This Electric Coffee Warmer Plate has six temperature settings so your favorite hot beverage is always just the temperature you like.

Set of coffee mugs

Keep a small set of attractive mugs near your home office coffee station, like these Koja Hand Painted 15 oz. Porcelain Ceramic Mugs.

Mug holder

If your coffee mugs didn’t come with a holder or tree of their own, consider investing in some of these Mug Hooks to hang them over your coffee pot.

Mini fridge

Building your coffee station on top of a mini fridge, like this Frestec 2.5 CU’ Mini Refrigerator, is a great way to use your space efficiently. This is a must for anyone who takes cream in their coffee.

Magnetic organizer

If you’re going the mini fridge route, this Jolitac Magnetic Fridge Spice Rack will provide you with all the space you need to hold extras like coffee stirrers, paper coasters, sugar packets, and more.

9. Create an attractive backdrop for your Zoom calls

Working in your bedroom is great… until your boss calls and you have to rush to get your clutter in order. Consider adding one of the following to your small bedroom as a fun and professional background for your next video chat:

Bookcase

Your small bedroom probably doesn’t have the space for a full-size bookcase, but I’m sure you can find a spot for the stylish BALANBO Corner Bookshelf.

Bulletin board

Bulletin boards can scream “college freshman,” but a corkboard in your Zoom backdrop can paint you as a diligent employee if done correctly. 

Keep your calendar, work reminders, and more pinned on this Quartet Cork Board.

Wall art

A plain wall won’t distract your colleagues, but it also won’t make you look any better to your boss. 

Add a neat packet of framed artwork, like the HAUS AND HUES Abstract Wall Art, to instantly elevate your office space.